I’m sure most of us have been asked – What is Rotary?
We know we are part of an international movement of like-minded individuals who work together.
We Change Lives through Service projects across the world when we;
Share our time, energy and skills
Connect and support communities
Listen and learn from others
Deliver sustainable projects and solutions
See our fundraising making a difference
Tell your Rotary story – We all have one to share!
On Sunday I attended a stimulating zoom with Rotaract Oceania to discuss how Rotary and Rotaract can cooperate and was greatly impressed with the progress in places like; Chile, Lebanon, Egypt, Sweden NZ and Australia. Some remarkable collaboration is happening and clubs can take advantage of this enthusiasm, right here in D9685. Please engage with our Rotaractors who are champing at the bit to have both organisations work together.
Important legislative stuff
The Banking Royal Commission has resulted in a change to the rules regarding the sale of insurance products referred to as ‘Add-Ons’. Rotary can no longer sell Public Liability ‘add on’ insurance when the Stallholder books for your event. It’s a bit more detailed, see the section in Latest News.
Director Identification Number Legislation
There have been some queries regarding this change in ATO legislation and our advice is that this does not apply to Rotary, but again there are more details in Latest News.
Group Think
As we start to emerge from lockdown, many club boards will be considering their 2021 plans and into the following year.
What to do with activities?
What to do with fundraising?
The first half of 2022 will be packed with every charitable and voluntary organisation trying to make up for lost time and funds. Club boards and committees will need to carefully review their strategy and consider input from everyone in the club.
David Dean sent me a great article, about embracing diversity to avoid ‘group think’, from a UK health services newsletter, written considering lessons learned from the COVID pandemic.
Read the full newsletter in the Latest News.
This week, with sadness, we farewell two wonderful Rotarians.
Dr Nuli Lemoh was a long-time member of Turramurra club and responsible for the Bo Children’s Hospital in Sierra Leone. He worked tirelessly for decades to build this hospital with generous support from his club and Rotarians in general.
PP Cyril Clark was a Charter Member of the Crows Nest club. At 94, he was a 52-year Rotarian, always a cheerful, enthusiastic volunteer and hard worker for his club and the community.
Their passing further demonstrates the challenge we have within Rotary with ageing membership. As I’ve said before, the service of these giants of Rotary need to be recognised by the recruitment of multiple new members as their contribution has been so great. We can’t simply replace them one for one. Membership growth will enable us to support existing programs and increase our output as we Serve to Change Lives.
Membership continues to grow and now with the clubs starting to meet face-to-face I know that many have members waiting to be inducted. One huge boost to the district numbers occurred last week with the changeover of Chatswood International. President Maria Chan inducted 10 new members and revitalised three former members. More information is included in the latest news.
November is Rotary Foundation month and I thank those of you who support the Rotary Foundation financially as this has enabled D9685 to be the Number 1 District in Australia and Number 8 in the world, for the delivery of humanitarian grants in Australia and globally. Please continue your support.
Arch Klumph was born in the small town of Conneautville, Pennsylvania, USA in 1869. When he was a child, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he would become a founding member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland in 1911 (at age 42). As club president in 1913, he advocated for the club to build a reserve that would ensure its means to do future good work.
Klumph on the cover of the September 1916 issue of The Rotarian.
Five years after he became a Rotarian, at age 48, Klumph was elected to serve as Rotary’s president for 1916-17. Near the end of his term, at the 1917 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, he reminded Rotarians that “Rotary is at the present time entering a new era, demanding improved methods in administrative machinery, with which to carry out the splendid principles which have been laid down heretofore.”
With the Nov 2 announcement that NSW Health is bringing forward the 'open up' a date to November 8, from December 1, DG Lindsay and Tania will now be available to visit clubs from Monday November 8. DG Lindsay will contact those clubs where Zoom had been chosen for DGs visits, in case they wish to move to a face to face meeting. But please exercise caution as this virus is still transmissible.
2. Rotaract Oceania
Rotaractors have found ways to meet up through lockdown and I recommend you Google ‘Chats with Rotaract’ for an uplifting dose of enthusiasm and optimism. Do yourself a favour and click on and listen to the President of Adelaide University Rotaract. We are in good hands! SEE MORE
3. Stallholder Public Liability Insurance
One Underwriting (Aon) have for many years provided a $6 insurance policy to cover stallholders and exhibitors at markets and fairs. This policy covers the insured for one day.
The Banking Royal Commission has resulted in a change of the rules regarding the sale of insurance products referred to as ‘Add On’.
from 1 November 2021 the Australian government has legislated that any director of an Australian based company, organisation, registered body, corporation, etc. must obtain a Director ID Number. Our advice is that in most instances this will not apply to Rotary club directors, for more information READ MORE
5.Group-think
Whether at work or in voluntary organisations it’s likely that you will work in a group. You will probably be referred to as a team. Probably come from similar backgrounds and will be somewhat stressed as you try to devise ways to recover from the travails of the last two years. It is sometimes easy in stressful situations to engage in a toxic cocktail called, ‘group think’. To avoid this, meetings need to be inclusive, but allow diversity in thinking, input from experts and playing devil’s advocate.
A very interesting article about ‘group think’ and decisions made by the UK Cabinet was written by UK health industry writer, Roy Lilley. The full article is available here. READ MORE
6. Youth Activities Are Back
Now that the lockdown has lifted, Youth activities are also heading towards normal. It starts with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Seminar (RYLA) -
DATES: SAT 9 JAN – SUN 15 JAN 2022
VENUE: Uniting Venue ELANORA HEIGHTS, Sydney
Applications open 1 September and close 30 November 2021. Completed online only via www.d9685ryla.org.au
...and continues with the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) being held on-line from 4th to 6th February 2022.
Click HEREfor more information, and click HERE for the RYPEN Package.
7. Mental Health First Aid Project (MHFA) and Youth Mental Health First Aid Project (YMHFA)
The Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains has a Mental Health First Aid Project to build the capacity in the community. A range of community and Rotarian instructors have been trained under Mental Health First Aid Australia to deliver the adult first aid course. This course is recommended for groups such as the RYLA committee, facilitators, Camp Mum and Dad, and anyone interacting with the RYLArians or similarly for RYPEN or any Rotarians dealing with people with mental health issues in the community and requiring "first aid".
As part of our project, it is only $30 for materials and insurance (covering the instructors). COVID has interrupted our course schedule, so it would help us and you if we could schedule a course for your team. It is a two day course and can be delivered over a weekend or two days of a week. You only have to find a venue and participants, minimum 6, preferably 12, max 16. Other rotarians and community organization members can also attend. Check out https://mhfa.com.au/ for more information and I am happy to answer any questions.
Ian Scott, Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains
8. COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow
As we lead into COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, we are excited to bring you our latest news from Oceania. COP26 explained In the latest edition of their newsletter, it features the story of Alex, a Rotarian and student from Curtin University in Perth who has been selected as a Global Voices Scholar to participate in COP26.
9. Rotary Club of Chatswood International celebrated their 11th Changeover.
October 27 was a night of excitement in Chatswood as the Rotary Club of Chatswood International emerged from lockdown and celebrated their 11th changeover. Past Pres Julian McVittie handed over the chain of office to former President Maria Chan. Maria has been busy during lockdown recruiting new members and dusting off some former ones, resulting in 13 additional Rotarians amongst our number. Special guest was PDG Danny Low OAM and his wife Angeline who were fully conversant with the correct protocol to feed the two Chinese Lions, part of the dance performance by the Chinese Community Lion Troupe. See More
10. WASH Rotary Action Group
JOIN US! Thursday Nov. 5, 10 am (AEDT), repeated Friday Nov. 6, 2 am (AEDT)
"Tools and Resources for WASH in Healthcare Programs" - Learn from WHO experts, fellow Rotarians, and WASH practitioners. See More
11. So They Can
There is an upcoming online event on 20 November.
It's a virtual dinner party (and cooking class!), connecting our worldwide community through the power of good food, great company and positive impact.
Any Crowded House fans or foodies will be in for a treat as it will be an action-packed evening, with special guests, Neil Finn, Peter Overton, and chef Luke Mangan.
To find out who "So They Can" are and what they do, See More.
"The Club Buzz" is somewhere that you will find some exciting and relevant programs or events happening in our Clubs and in District 9685.
Just Look HEREfor the latest activities and news. In almost every case, the headings are linked to either a larger copy of the document, or more information. So just click on the headings.
Radio is a powerful way to spread your Club stories. If your Club has a project, local or overseas, which would interest the wider general public, discuss it with Rotary Matters presenter Ian Stuart who will be glad to help spread the word. Ian.stuart@optusnet.com.au 0416 138 860
School students use Public Speaking to Captivate their Future
to let us know of any bereavements you would like published.
You may also inform your Assistant Governor, the District Secretary, or the Governor. Remember to also update your club's member database on the District website.
THE ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COURSE 66
5th to 7th November, 2021
On-line by Zoom
As the face to face course RLI 65 was being held during the current lock down, RLI 65 has been cancelled. The next opportunity is RLI 66 which will be held on-line.
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"The Club Buzz" is somewhere that you will find some exciting 
